The dromedary is mainly the carrier of coronavirus MERSand would transmit it to humans according to the results of a study conducted by American researchers from Columbia University and Arab researchers from King Saud University in Riyadh published in the American journal mBio.
The researchers set up a vast campaign of anal and oral blood samples from more than 200 camels, sheep and goats in Saudi Arabia.
They found that 74% of the dromedaries were infected by antibodies specific to MERS and by the virus. However, these animals were in good health.
They also analyzed blood samples from camels taken between 1992 and 2010. The researchers established that the virus already existed 20 years ago and that camels were already carriers.
Transmission of the disease by dromedaries
“This virus is extraordinarily common among dromedariesfor at least twenty years. In parts of Saudi Arabia, two-thirds of these animals have their respiratory tract affected by this virus, ”Ian Lipkin, co-author of the study, told AFP. “They are likely the main source of infection in humans.”
“The virus detected in animals is the same as the one we found in humans,” said Ian Lipkin, co-author of the study. “If this is confirmed, this would be an extremely rare case of direct contamination of humans by animals. “
Coronavirus infection manifests with fever and respiratory signs which may be complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome. The incubation period is currently estimated at 10 days. To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports 182 people affected by the disease worldwide, 79 of whom have died since September 2012.
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